Side Effects
Head/Brain
- Cerebral hemorrhage (bleeding into the cranial cavity) 7,8
- Cerebral thrombosis (blood clot that drains blood from the brain) 7,8
- Melasma, which may persist (skin discoloration; usually dark, irregular patches) 7,8
- Migraine 4,7,8
- Headache 4,7,8
- Dizziness 7,8
- Loss of scalp hair 7,8
- Acne4,7,8
Eyes
- Retinal thrombosis (blockage of the central retinal vein that carries blood away from the eye) 7,8
- Change in corneal curvature (steepening of the cornea) 7,8
- Intolerance to contact lenses 7,8
- Cataracts 7,8
Heart/Blood
- Thrombophlebitis and venous thrombosis with or without embolism (blood clots in the veins) 4,7,8
- Hypertension (high blood pressure) 7,8
- Mesenteric thrombosis (blood clot in the major veins that drain blood from the intestine) 7,8
- Hemorrhagic eruption (bleeding eruption) 7,8
- Arterial thromboembolism (blood clots in the heart) 7,8
- Pulmonary embolism (arterial blockage, usually from a blood clot, that cuts off one lung's blood supply) 7,8
- Myocardial infarction (heart attack) 7,8
- Budd-Chiari Syndrome (closing of the veins that carry deoxygenated blood from the lower half of the body into the heart) 7,8
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome (kidney failure and low platelet count in the blood) 7,8
Mental
- Mental depression 4,7,8
- Nervousness 7,8
Whole Body
- Changes in libido (usually decreased libido) 4,7,8
- Edema (increased fluid and subsequent pressure within an organ) 7,8
- Change in weight (increase or decrease) 7,8
- Rash (allergic reaction) 7,8
- Pre-menstrual syndrome 7,8
- Hirsutism (excessive hair growth in places where hair normally is minimal or absent) 7,8
- Erythema multiforme (allergic reaction) 7,8
- Erythema nodosum (skin inflammation) 7,8
- Porphyria (disease that can manifest itself as anything from acute mania, including hallucinations, to constipation and skin rashes) 4,7,8
- Bone loss 2
- Cancer (breast, uterine and vaginal) 4